How To Live With Joy

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
SEASON OF EASTERTIDE
April 27, 2025

(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then cross-posted here afterwards.
If the video doesn’t load properly here, you should be able to click on the Watch on Facebook link and watch as a guest, even if you don’t have Facebook) 

PRELUDE: Thine Be the Glory Handel, arr. Jason Krug
CALL TO WORSHIP: (based on a prayer by Rev. Dr. Marilyn McCord Adams)

One: O God, you know everything.
All: Reading minds and hearts is easy for you.
One: What’s hard for us is to know how to share ourselves willingly.
All: Like infants in mother’s arms, we need you to teach us.
One: Give us the language. Stir up the trust.
All: Kindle the desire to know even as we are known.

OPENING HYMN: That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright   GTG#254
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED OF GOD: (based on a prayer by Rev. Dr. Marilyn McCord Adams)

All: O God, you are a welcomer of children. You even said that “childlike” is our best approach to you. We thank you for the gift of children who show us how to be open and curious and ready to learn. Forgive us when we close our hearts and act like “know-it-alls.” Through Jesus Christ. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE:

One: In God, we find the most caring parent we can imagine. Like an attentive dad, God prepares our meals and feeds us. Like a confident mother, God gently helps us grow up. You were already forgiven and loved before you ever thought to ask.
All: Thanks be to God, our gracious Parent!

SUNG RESPONSE:  Halle, Halle, Hallelujah!   GTG#591
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST:

One: The peace of Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Let’s share the peace of Christ with one another.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: John 20:19-20    Matthew 18:1-5

One: May God bless the reading of Holy Scripture.
All: Thanks be to God.

SOLO ANTHEM: A Festival Chime Gustav Holst   Nico Caruso, tenor
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

One: Like a mother gently cooing to her baby,
All: you speak to us as little ones.
One: Like a father slowing down, explaining things in small steps,
All: you meet us on our level, speaking so we can understand. Amen.

MESSAGE: How To Live With Joy: Finding a Child-Like Faith
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:  At the Name of Jesus    GTG#264
CELEBRATING NEW MEMBERS: Tony Waterhouse-Leal and Matthew Kennedy
WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  Come, Bring Your Burdens to God   GTG#851
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER:

Our Mother and Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES/INVITATION TO GIVE:

One: Let our tithes and offerings be our songs of praise and thanksgiving in response to the God who lives us and free us into new life!
Offering link

OFFERTORY SOLO: I Know that My Redeemer Liveth Handel     Emma Witbolsfeugen, soprano
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:

One: Holy Source of all good, bless our offerings. Let them become healing for the wounded, hope for the disheartened, and courage for the frightened.
All: In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

CLOSING HYMN:  My Life Flows On (How Can I Keep from Singing?)    GTG#821
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE: The Strife Is O’er Palestrina, setting by Jason Krug

 

A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING!

• WELCOME! MEMBERS! NEWCOMERS! FRIENDS! We are so glad you could join us for worship today! VISITORS, please take a moment to let us know you were here by picking up an attendance card (in the pews) and filling out whatever information you would like to share with us.
• WELCOME FAMILIES! Children’s Sunday School meets in the 2nd floor Children’s Space, Sunday mornings during the 1st half of worship, beginning at 11:00 am. NURSERY care is also available upstairs. Parents are asked to fill out a brief registration form before church begins. (This form only needs to be filled out once).
• HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES available upon request. Talk to Josh up in the front of the sanctuary at the livestream table if you would like to use one.
• 2025 PER CAPITA is $44.98 per member. This money helps support our denomination on the regional and national levels. The breakdown is: $10.84 to General Assembly, $3.15 to Synod of Mid-America, and $30.99 to Heartland Presbytery. If you would like to help out the church by paying your own Per Capita, make your check out to Westport Presbyterian Church or place money in a pew envelope and include “per Capita” on the memo line. Thank You!
• WPC’s Session has chosen a CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY provided by HolyCow! Consulting. Members and friends of the congregation will receive a link to this survey the week of April 28. Please make sure your email address is up to date on the church newsletter list. Contact the church office if you need to be added. Most will simply use the link from the email to access the online survey. Help is available to those who need computer access or would prefer a paper copy. Thank you in advance for helping us make wise decisions regarding how we move faithfully into the future.

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

• WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sunday mornings & Thursday nights. Items Needed for our CLOTHING CLOSET include: Sneakers, T-shirts, Underwear (Men’s Boxer Briefs), Socks, Women’s pants/shorts size 0-8, Men’s pants/shorts size 28-40, Bandaids, Sweatpants, Leggings, Belts, Backpacks, Body wash, Sports bras, & Washcloths.
• WESTPORT SHOWERS is looking for additional volunteers to help with Sunday mornings. With the increase in guests, we would like to have teams of 2 volunteers upstairs working together at the door and 2 downstairs working in the shower/laundry room each Sunday. You would be working with experienced volunteers who can train you in what is needed. If you would like to help, and are willing to volunteer 1 Sunday morning a month, reach out to Drew Irwin or Allison Rozga for more information.
• We are giving out lunches on Wednesdays in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.
• BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED: Westport Center for the Arts is seeking board members who are interested in helping us keep community arts alive in Westport. We are a volunteer board who meets monthly (usually on the 4th Saturday of the month at 10 am) to work on planning programming, fundraising, community partnerships, and marketing. With the recent loss of our board president, we need people who are willing to fill some leadership roles within the organization. Our programming includes Monthly Brown Bag Concerts, Independent Professional Theater, The Dancing Word (poetry & dance) and Visual Art Exhibits. If you have an interest in the arts or know anyone who may be interested in serving on the board, please contact us at admin@wcakc.org. Support from our community is needed to keep our organization thriving.

CONNECTION HOUR SMALL GROUPS:  Sunday Mornings

• 9:30 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm” lead by Jennifer White.
  Does it feel like everywhere you look the world is on fire? This weekly workshop will give you 1-5 minute tools to help deal with the stresses of our modern way of living.
• 10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group readings related to various topics including faith, art, culture, politics, earth care. Currently reading Wanderlust: A History of Walking, by Rebecca Solnit.

INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)

• Monday, Apr. 28 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
  • 7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
• Tuesday, Apr. 29 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
  • 6:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
• Wednesday, Apr. 30 10:00 a.m. Resource Center Open (Storefront)
  • 11:00 a.m. Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
  • 7:00 p.m. Stewardship Committee Meeting (Online)
• Thursday, May 1 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
• Friday, May 2 11:30 a.m. Children’s Mercy Healthy Families (Fellowship Room)
  • 7:00 p.m. Westport Center for the Arts presents
    The Dancing Word: “The Layers of Life: Where Do They Begin?” (at Center for Spiritual Living, 1014 W. 39th St. KCMO)
• Saturday, May 3 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
  • 9:00 a.m.- Private Event Rental: MISD Tea Fundraiser & Art Show
  • 6:00 p.m. 1-4 Art Show, 2-4 Tea (Fellowship Room)
  • 2:00 p.m. Westport Center for the Arts presents
    The Dancing Word: “The Layers of Life: Where Do They Begin?” (at Center for Spiritual Living, 1014 W. 39th St. KCMO)
• Sunday, May 4 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
  • Connection Hour Small Groups:
    • 9:30 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm”
    • 10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group
  • 11:00 a.m. Communion Worship Service (Sanctuary)
    • Children’s Sunday School & Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
  • 12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Wednesday, May 7 6:00 p.m. “Beyond The Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness” Film Screening
  (at Intersect KC, 606 Gladstone Ave., KCMO)
  
• Westport Center for the Arts presents The Dancing Word – “The Layers of Life: Where Do They Begin?”
  Friday, May 2 & Saturday May 3 at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1014 W 39th St, KCMO 64111

MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:  from Riva and the League of Women Voters

If you would like to read more about individual bills please go to the house and senate websites (house.mo.gov – HB bills) (senate.mo.gov – SB bills). There is a place where you can put in the bill number and it will take you to that bill page. You will also find the emails to all legislators there. If you would like to receive the weekly Legislative Action Newsletter from the League of Women Voters KC, visit the website lwvkc.org and click on the red sign up box on top of the page. You do not have to be a member of the league to do this. You can also share the alert with others.

Concerning bills that are moving through the legislature:

• SS#2 SCS SB 22 – This prohibits courts from re-writing summary statements on legislatively referred constitutional amendments. This allows the legislature to write ballot language that could be misleading and often times, unconstitutional. This has occurred many times in the past and the courts were called upon to change it. This bill is important because it will allow the legislators to write deceptive ballot language to intentionally confuse citizens to vote for it. This bill was filed so that the language of HJR 54 could not be changed. This bill has passed through and on its way to the governor to sign into law.
• HJR 54 – There seems to be much contention about the wording of this ballot. It has gone through several committees, and several versions. All of them are confusing but basically strip the rights away from Amendment 3 (reproductive rights) that were passed last November.
• HCS HJR 73 – another bill that will undo Amendment 3 (Reproductive rights) passed by majority last November.
• SB618- Taxpayers can claim a tax credit up to 100% of contributions made to pregnancy resource centers. These facilities are not regulated or medically licensed. They provide services only from an anti-abortion perspective and use deceptive marketing saying they provide counseling and other prenatal services. This will not only reduce state revenue but is an indirect way for taxpayers to foot the bill for these centers.
• HB1175 – SAPA (Second Amendment Preservation Act) interferes with law enforcement’s ability to enforce federal firearm regulations and disrupts collaboration between local, state and federal agents. making it more difficult to solve violent crimes. It also undermines efforts to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
• SB326 – This law disallows instruction that promotes differential treatment based on race, gender, religions, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry. While this sounds like a good bill, it actually is an anti-DEI bill that punishes staff if they violate this law. Very vague – it would put staff and teachers under great strain to figure out what is considered illegal under this law.

If you are concerned about these bills or others, please contact your legislators.